Improved hbe-esoape



THOMAS frioMrsoN,v Jn., or .NEW wenn, N.. 'Y. l

Letters Patent No. 81,436, dated Aagicst 25, 1868.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERNE Be it known that I, THOMAS TeMrsoN, .I r., of the city, county, -and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Firc-Escapes and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to niake and use the same, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, forming part et' this specilication, in which- Figure 1 is a front `ii'ew of a portion of a building to which my improved irc-escape has been attached, showing the ladder lowered. 4

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the same, taken through the line x cv, g. 3, and showing the ladderraised. Y

lFigure 3 is a detail top view of the ladder, showing the manner in which it is pivoted te the balcony. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. y My invention has for its object to furnish an improved fire-escape, for permanent attachment to the outer sides of buildings, which shall be so constructed and arranged that it may be conveniently lowered when required for use, andraised again when not required for use and it consists in the construction of the ladder, 'and in its combinationwith the balcony, as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the outer wall of a building, to which the balconies B have been permanently attached in the ordinary manner.

D is the ladder, which is formed with four side-bars, two upon each side, te which the steps are pivoted.

The upper ends of the outer side-bars are pivoted to the framework of the balcony, and the upper ends of the inner side-bars are pivoted to a rod, C, attached to said framework, as shewnin iig. 3.

'.lhe steps of the ladder D should be made of corrugated iron, and with a downwardly-projecting flange upon their ends, said anges projecting at the rear of the said steps, to form ears.

The forward part of the flanges of the said stops is pivoted to the inner sides of the outer sidc-bars of the ladder D, and thc rearwardly-projecting part of said flanges is pivoted to the outer sides of the inner side-bars of the ladder, setlist when the ladder is raised into a horizontal position, as shown in iig. 2, the two side-bars upon each side of the ladder ina'y lic side by side witlzi the danges of the steps between them.

The steps of the ladder D are made broad, so that, when the ladder is raised into a horizontal position, the forward edge of one step may correspond with the rear edge of the next step, thus forming a continuous door, enabling the ladder when raised to serve as a part of the iloor of the balcony, if desired.

The ladder D should be made of such a length that when its free end is lowered to the next lower balcony, or to the ground, the ladder uiay stand at such an inclination that ascent and descent upon it may be easy and convenient.

In the case of the upper balcony, the ladder may be made long, and may be pivoted at its middle part, so that when lowered, its upper end may extend up to the roof, to enable any who may be upon the said roof to escape. V l

The ladder D is raised andlowered by means of a chain or chains, E, attached te its free or lower end, and extending up to the balcony, to which said ladderis pivoted, and which, .when the ladder has been raised into a horizontal position, may be secured in place by being attached to staplcsor hooks, or by means of other wellknown secure and easily-detachable means.

This construction oi' the ladder D enables it to be easily raised out of the way, when not required for use` and enables it to be easily and quickly lowered when needed, and, when lowered, it furnishes a lrm and sccur( passage-way for the escape of those who may be in the upper part of the house, und whose escape by the ordinary passage-ways has been prevented.

I Vclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 4 The ladder D, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, that is to'say, lwith two side-bar at each side, to which the ilangcd ends of the broad steps are pivotcd, in combination with the balcony B, perma nently attached to the outer wall et' the building, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

irnos. roMPseN, JR.

Witnesses: v

FnANr: B Locxcnnr, James T. GRAHAM. 

